Oklahoma run rules Bryant in first NCAA Regional game, 14-4

Without Lauren Chamberlain in the lineup, Oklahoma was still unfazed by the Bryant Bulldogs. On a Friday night in Norman, the Sooners began their road to Oklahoma City with a blowout victory.

Patty Gasso’s club rocked the Bryant Bulldogs in a five-inning contest that ended in a 14-4 win for the Sooners. OU’s victory puts them in the winner’s bracket, and moves them a step closer to the NCAA Super Regional.

Over a thousand fans were in attendance for the second game of a Norman Regional double-header. The Texas A&M Aggies fought back to beat the Hofstra Pride, 7-6, in their game of the night.

Despite the score, Oklahoma was forced to make a comeback of their own. The Sooners were up 2-0 after one thanks to a Brittany Williams single that drove in runs scored by Destinee Martinez and Georgia Casey.

The Bryant Bulldogs responded in the top of the second with a Kendall Corder grand slam, giving the Bulldogs a brief 4-2 lead.

Corder’s grand slam, which was her only hit of the night, woke up the beast that is Oklahoma Softball. In the bottom of the second, Oklahoma’s Shelby Pendley homered with two on, Brittany Williams scored off a Callie Parsons single, Whitney Ellis would do the same off a Javen Henson single, Callie Parsons and Leslie Miller would also find home plate before the end of the frame.

Oklahoma’s second inning burst gave them a 10-4 advantage, and they would extend their lead with a three-run homer from Whitney Ellis in the third and Destinee Martinez’s third run of the night in the fourth.

The ten run lead for the Sooners was enough for Oklahoma to call it a night after three straight scoreless, hitless innings from the Bryant Bulldogs.

Oklahoma’s Kelsey Stevens was the winning pitcher. Stevens allowed three hits and struck out five in four innings pitched. The sophomore was unfazed by her shaky start, keeping her composure to help Oklahoma rout their foe from the Colonial Athletic Associaton.

The Sooners, as a team, improve to 46-10 with the 14-4 stomping of the Bulldogs. They will now focus their attention on the SEC’s Texas A&M Aggies. The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start and the action can be followed on ESPN 3.

With a win, the Sooners would need just one more to advance. However, a loss would force the Sooners to win a game Saturday night, then two more Sunday.

Hofstra and Bryant will meet in an elimination game at 3:30 p.m. following OU and A&M’s Regional semifinal match-up. Tomorrow should be a great day for some softball.